Combination mattress handle and ventilator



Feb. 4, 1964 o. FLIGHTNER COMBINATION MATTRESS HANDLE AND VENTILATOR Filed Sept. 4, 1962 INVENTOR. DONALD O. RIGHT/van BY 7% h A T To /V5243 United States Patent 3,120,009 COMBINATION MATTRESS HANDLE AND VENTILATOR Donald 0. Flightner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Bechik Products, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 221,188 3 Claims. (Cl. -345) My invention relates to improvements in innerspring mattresses and provides a novel combination lifting handle and ventilator for such mattresses.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is extremely inexpensive to produce, is easy to install, and is extremely efiicient both as a lifting handle and as a ventilator.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which is rugged and durable in construction and is not unsightly in appearance.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a conventional innerspring mattress having a novel combination handle and ventilator secured to the side wall thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, some parts being broken away.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety an innerspring mattress the top wall thereof being identified by 2, the bottom wall by 3, the side wall, normally formed from ticking, by 4. The top and bottom walls 2, 3 and the side wall 4 are formed into a padded jacket A encompassing a generally rectangular multi-spring inner structure, not shown. The upper and lower welts, formed by rolling and stitching the adjacent edges of these wall elements together are identified respectively by the numerals 5, 6.

Shown as engaging the outer surface 4a of the side wall 4, intermediate the welts 5, 6, is a rigid faceplate element 7 preferably formed from stamped sheet metal or the like. As shown, the faceplate element 7 is horizontally elongated, has arcuate, preferably semi-circular opposite end portions '70, and is formed to define aperture means, preferably and as shown in the nature of three longitudinally spaced circular apertures S, for the reception of the three middle fingers of an operator endeavoring to lift the mattress 1. At its marginal edge the faceplate 7 is formed to define a marginal flange 9 which extends inwardly from the plane thereof at an oblique angle.

Shown as engaging the inner surface 4b of the side wall 4, immediately inwardly of the faceplate 7 and having a shape generally similar to that of the faceplate 7, is a clamping plate element 10. The clamping plate 10 has aperture means therein substantially similar to that of the aperture means of the faceplate 7, namely, three longitudinally spaced circular apertures 11 which are aligned with the apertures in said faceplate 7.

The faceplate 7, adjacent the marginal edges of the apertures 8 therein, is formed to define tubular sleeves 12 which project through apertures in the side wall 4 and through the apertures 11 in the clamping plate 10.

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At their extreme inner ends the sleeves 12 are peened or crimped over the inner surface 10a of the clamping plate element 10 immediately adjacent the marginal edges of the apertures 11 therein, whereby to tightly clamp the side wall 4 between the elements 7, 10. Preferably, and as shown, the dimensions of the clamping plate 10 are such as to cause the marginal edge 13 thereof to exert a maximum of clamping pressure on the under surface 9a of the marginal flange 9.

Obviously, the structure above described provides an excellent handle for lifting of the mattress 1 and provides unrestricted access of atmosphere to the interior thereof whereby to assure maximum hygenic conditions being maintained at all times. However, because of the size of the openings defined by the aperture means 8, 11, it is highly desirable to screen the internal innerspring structure from view. For this purpose, I provide a highly perforate flexible curtain 14, preferably formed from a suitable fabric of selected color. The curtain 14 is stretched taut vertically, the upper and lower edges thereof being secured to the inner surface 4b of the side wall 4 in any suitable manner in vertically spaced relation to the opposite longitudinal edges of the clamping plate element 10, as indicated by 15 and 16, respectively. In order to permit separation of the side wall 4 from the curtain 14, however, the opposite side edges 17 thereof are allowed to loosely overlie the inner surface 14b in outwardly spaced relation to the opposite ends 10b of the clamping plate 10. This arrangement facilitates inserum of the fingers in the aligned apertures 8, 11 Without fear of exposing the spring structure covered by the jacket A.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that same may be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination handle and ventilator for an innerspring mattress having a side wall formed from ticking,

(a) said handle comprising a horizontally elongated rigid faceplate element engaging the outer surface of said side wall intermediate thereof,

(b) and a similarly shaped rigid anchoring plate element in engagement with the inner surface of said side wall,

(0) each of said elements defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced axially aligned finger-receiving apertures,

(d) said faceplate element being formed to define a plurality of tubular sleeves one each of which extends through an aligned opening in said side wall and through its respective aligned opening in said anchoring plate,

(e) the inner end portions of each of said tubular sleeves having crimping engagement with the inner surface of said crimping plate about the margin of its respective aperture.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which (a) said faceplate is formed to define a marginal flange which extends inwardly from the plane of said faceplate at an oblique angle,

(b) and in which the dimensions of said clamping plate element are such as to cause the marginal edge thereof to exert a maximum clamping pressure on the undersurface of said marginal flange.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in further comface of said side wall whereby to facilitate insertion of a hand into said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fridolph Feb. 3, 1948 Radzik July 12, 1955 m... J n W 

1. A COMBINATION HANDLE AND VENTILATOR FOR AN INNERSPRING MATTRESS HAVING A SIDE WALL FORMED FROM TICKING, (A) SAID HANDLE COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED RIGID FACEPLATE ELEMENT ENGAGING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL INTERMEDIATE THEREOF. (B) AND A SIMILARLY SHAPED RIGID ANCHORING PLATE ELEMENT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL, (C) EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED AXIALLY ALIGNED FINGER-RECEIVING APERTURES, (D) SAID FACEPLATE ELEMENT BEING FORMED TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR SLEEVES ONE EACH OF WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH AN ALIGNED OPENING IN SAID SIDE WALL AND THROUGH ITS RESPECTIVE ALIGNED OPENING IN SAID ANCHORING PLATE, (E) THE INNER END PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID TUBULAR SLEEVES HAVING CRIMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CRIMPING PLATE ABOUT THE MARGIN OF ITS RESPECTIVE APERTURE. 